One
of the oldest families in Steelton's African American community is the McKamey Family. With
roots in Virginia, members of the family moved north to Steelton in the
nineteenth century, drawn, like so many others, by the availability of work in
the steel mills. Early records show that John S. McKamey, a laborer,
lived at 148 Ridge Street in 1887. Although this was the only McKamey
listing for that year, it was not long before more members of the family
established themselves in the community. By 1894, four separate families
held addresses in that neighborhood. George and Joseph McKamey, both
giving their occupations as "laborer," lived in the same house at
218 Bailey Street. Mrs. Jennie McKamey resided at 150 Ridge Street.
Women were not usually listed in city directories unless they were the head of
the household, in which case they were usually widows, divorced, or single employed
women. Mrs. Jennie McKamey is not listed as a widow, and in 1898 she married
George W. Roebuck. Since John S. McKamey no longer appears in
the listings, she may be his widow, but it is more likely that she was at that
point either separated or divorced from him. The other family member is Lee David
McKamey, a contractor living at 153 Adams Street.
The photograph above is from a McKamey
family album and is of George McKamey, a fireman with West Side Hose Company,
Number 3, at the reins of a fire wagon at the borough Fireman's Parade.
It is not dated. Click the image for a full-size picture.
By 1897, Joseph McKamey was gone--he had passed
away at age 73 the year before--and the address was occupied by his widow,
Caroline. No mention is made of George McKamey. Mrs. Jennie
McKamey is still listed, although she moved next door to 152 Ridge
Street. Lee McKamey is still at 153 Adams Street, but instead of being
listed as a contractor, his occupation is given as "laborer."
Lee was married to Gertrude Strothers, and one of their children, John Henry,
attended the local schools, most likely studying in the Hygienic School, which
was newly established for the children of the African American
community. John H. McKamey went on to study at Steelton High School,
graduating in 1905. Three other African American students graduated that
year, one of whom was Numa P. G. Adams. Adams would go on to study at
Howard University, and then Columbia University, where he studied
chemistry. After studying medicine at the University of Chicago, Adams
established a medical practice, then later returned to Howard where he was
appointed Dean of the Medical School, a position he held until his death in
1940. John McKamey, unfortunately, never had the chance to witness the
accomplishments of his classmate, as he died suddenly about a year after his
graduation from Steelton High School.
«
John Henry McKamey's 1905 diploma from Steelton High School is proudly displayed. John Henry, the son of Lee David and Gertrude McKamey, was
the first of the family to graduate from the local high school, but sadly died
less than a year after this distinction. Others, however, would follow
in his footsteps. (click for a larger image)
Members of the McKamey family fought in Europe
in both World Wars, as witnessed by their tombstone inscriptions at Midland
Cemetery. Charles Henry McKamey, a World War I veteran, was a member of
the famed 368th Infantry in the 92nd Division, the first division in the AEF
composed entirely of African American troops. A generation later, Eugene
McKamey would serve his country in World War II. Another World War I
veteran, Howard Leroy McKamey, is buried at William Howard Day Cemetery.
The family business at about this time seemed
to be driving and chauffeuring. All of the McKameys listed in the 1919
Steelton Directory list one of those jobs as their occupation. The
family homesteads also remained pretty much the same, with Lee and Gertrude
McKamey still living at 153 Adams Street with their ten-year-old daughter
Philome, an address they shared only briefly with veteran Howard Leroy McKamey.
George McKamey, age 49, with his sister Anna Goff, lived at 218 Bailey, the
old address of Joseph and Caroline McKamey, both of whom had long passed
on. Also at this address was Newton McKamey, his wife Mary and their two
sons George and Raymond. Charles McKamey, freshly arrived home from the
Great War, had settled at 166 Adams Street.
Today, the McKamey family proudly remembers and
celebrates the rich heritage handed down from their ancestors. Modern
descendants have contributed records, memories, photographs and names to the
Midland files. Midland Cemetery contains many tombstones inscribed with
the name McKamey, as does Day Cemetery, but it does not take names etched in
granite to ignite memories of the past--McKamey family descendants keep those
memories alive everyday.
» A
treasured photograph in the McKamey family, a handwritten note to this picture says "Essie,
George, Aunt Ida McKamey Jackson, Annie on motorcycle." (click
for a larger image)
More McKamey family portraits: At left
is Essie McKamey Armstrong, and right is Annie McKamey. Click either
image for a full-sized image. Essie was the wife of Joseph L. Armstrong,
a steelworker, and they lived at 115 Adams Street.